68 PTERYLOGRAPHY. 



a. With ear-tufts. 



1. BUBO, Cuvier. 

 a . Tarsi and toes feathered. 



1 . Strix bubo. The tracts, which are represented in Plate II, figs. 8 and 9, have all the characters 

 of this group completely developed, and may, therefore, very well be regarded as primary representa- 

 tions of the true Owl-structure. A true lumbar tract is wanting ; on the other hand, two rows of 

 stronger contour-feathers are observed, forming a sort of breeches on the upper part of the shank. 

 The wings have twenty-nine remiges, the last two small ; the first three with an angular emargina- 

 tion of the inner vane, the first extending far down, the second only at the apex, with the 

 margin of the outer vane toothed ; the first somewhat shorter than the fifth ; the third the longest, 

 but very little longer than the second and fourth. 



2. Sir. mexicana. Tracts exactly as in Sir. bubo ; twenty-five (?) remiges, the first three 

 with the inner vane emarginate close to the apex ; the first as long as the fifth, or even a little 

 longer ; the second longest ; the third but little, and the fourth considerably shorter. 



3. Str. virginiana, WILS., Amer. Orn., ii, 257, pi. 30, fig. 1. Tracts exactly as in Sir. 

 bubo ; twenty-seven remiges, the first three with the inner vane emarginate near the apex ; the 

 first as long as the fifth ; the third the longest, but little longer than the second and fourth. 



4. Str. lactea, TEMM., PL Col., 4. Exactly as in Str. bubo. 



/3. Tarsi and toes naked, covered with a uniformly warty skin, in which two or three 

 half rings are formed only immediately above the claws. The plumage leaves the 

 heels free behind, but in front runs down upon the tarsi a little way in the form 

 of a pointed band. 



5. Str. ceylanensis LATH. (Sir. ketupa TEMM., PL Col., 74). All as in Str. bubo, only the 

 main stem of the inferior tract was completely rubbed off on the breast, undoubtedly because the 

 skin had belonged to a female which was engaged in incubation, for the contour-feathers of this 

 part are lost during the breeding season, as I have observed in our indigenous species, especially 

 Str. aluco and Str. Jlammea. Twenty-four remiges, the first three with a slight, deeply seated 

 emargination ; the first equal to the ninth ; the fifth the longest, but little longer than the fourth 

 and sixth ; second and third considerably abbreviated. 



6. Str. Icschenaultii TEMM., PL Col., 20. Twenty-four remiges; the first four with a 

 considerable emargination, which is especially noticeable on the first and second ; first a little 

 longer than the eighth ; second equal to the fifth ; third and fourth of equal length, but little 

 longer than their neighbours. 



2. OTUS, Cuvier. 



Pterylosis nearly as in Bubo, but the larger contour-feathers of the shank are placed higher, 

 about the knee, and are continued npon the thigh, where they form a tolerably strong femoral 



